Name: _________________________________________
Date: _________________
Year Group: _________
📊 Key Facts
- 60% of young people aged 11-16 have experienced cyberbullying
- Victims of cyberbullying are 2-9x more likely to consider suicide
- Cyberbullying is most prevalent on Instagram and Snapchat among UK teens
- Girls are more likely to experience cyberbullying than boys
- Only around 30% of cyberbullying is reported to an adult
⚖️ The Law
- Malicious Communications Act 1988 / Communications Act 2003: sending offensive, threatening, or false messages is a criminal offence
- Protection from Harassment Act 1997: cyberstalking and persistent online harassment
- Defamation Act 2013: posting false statements of fact that damage a person's reputation
- Revenge porn / non-consensual intimate image sharing: up to 2 years imprisonment
- Online Safety Act 2023: platforms have a duty to address bullying and harassment of children
- Schools have a statutory duty under the Equality Act 2010 to investigate and address bullying related to protected characteristics
✏️ Think About It: Scenarios
Scenario 1: A friend tells you something worrying about cyberbullying. What do you do?
Scenario 2: You see something related to cyberbullying that concerns you. What are your options?
Scenario 3: Someone you know seems to be in a situation involving cyberbullying. How do you respond?
💡 Key Messages
- Cyberbullying carries serious psychological consequences — it is not 'just online'
- Sending threatening or harassing messages online is a criminal offence
- Platforms have legal duties under the OSA 2023 — use the reporting tools
- 30% reporting rate means most bullying goes unchallenged — being the one who tells matters enormously
- Digital resilience is a skill that can be learned and practised
🆘 Need Help?
Childline: 0800 1111 (free, 24/7, confidential)
Crimestoppers: 0800 555 111 (100% anonymous)
CEOP: ceop.police.uk (online exploitation)
Emergency: 999